Bordeaux red blends around the world: Seven of the finest

What do winemakers mean when they use the term 'Bordeaux blend'? Here are some of the finest wines from around the world, made outside Bordeaux, that would be a fitting centrepiece to any dinner party.

It is not a legal or technical term

There are no specific rules on percentages in the finished wine, yields when growing or planting regulations as found in Bordeaux itself. It is simply a term for the grapes used.

Meritage

However, some wines made in the USA may use the trade marked term ‘Meritage’ on labels, if they are a member of the Meritage Association. This means that the wine must combine two or more of the five red varieties above, and can also use St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère. No single variety can constitute more than 90% of the finished wine.

Are they just copies of Bordeaux wines?

It’s not as if winemakers on Tuscany’s Bolgheri coast or on the gravel soils of Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand are seeking to make carbon copies of Bordeaux wines. Climate, as well as vineyard and cellar techniques, differ within and between areas.

And it’s completely up to the winemakers themselves whether or not to use the term ‘Bordeaux blend’ when describing their wines.

Yet, there is a sense, too, of paying hommage to what Bordeaux has achieved in terms of structured wines that are built to last – sometimes for many years.

While the existence of Bordeaux blends, even as a term in itself, underlines the maritime French region’s enduring position as a benchmark for fine wines, it also says something about the versatility of the grapes themselves.

The fine wines below have all been reviewed by Decanter experts.

Words by Jim Button and Chris Mercer.

Have you tasted any of these wines? Let us know what you thought in the comments section below

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